Had 341 today, got grilled

[randian]

Maybe because I was pro se? The previous petitioner didn't get nearly as many questions, but she had an attorney. Mostly he seemed hung up on two things: (1) no tax returns the last 2 years, and (2) how I could survive the last couple of years without any income. I had to explain multiple times that I had no tax returns because no income means I'm not required to file a return, and that savings plus credit cards (the debt therefrom being why I'm filing BK in the first place) were how I survived. He seemed to think I must have been supported by somebody else. Eventually he said he was "closing the case as no asset", which I assume means I'm in the 60 day club (unless "close" has some other meaning). My landlord's attorney was pretty aggressive too, the trustee basically shut him down. Altogether less than pleasant or swift.

[sscott4775]

Hi Randian,

Sorry to hear it didn't go as well as you had hoped. By the looks of it, it seems you're in the 60-day club, so let me be the first to congratulate you! It must be a relief having this meeting over with...I can't wait for mine to be over with.

I wonder why the trustee got so hung up on how you were supporting yourself even after you explained yourself multiple times? A person has to do what they have to do in these times to get by. Trustee may not understand that, but those of us who struggle sure do!

[randian]

By the looks of it, it seems you're in the 60-day club, so let me be the first to congratulate you!

Thanks. This forum is great.

It must be a relief having this meeting over with...I can't wait for mine to be over with.

Yes it was. I wonder if he was probing for a contradiction or lie. He even asked if the books I had in storage were valuable. Unless I'm hiding something like a Gutenberg Bible I can't think of any books valuable enough for a BK trustee to bother with. The mass market paperback scifi I actually own was, naturally, uninteresting.

[sscott4775]

You're probably right, he was probably just doing some normal investigating...a worthwhile attempt to scrounge up any valuable assets that might have been overlooked.
I hope the next 60 days go by peacefully for you!

[Charlie777]

Generally a pro se filer doesn't get treated differently, but I think Trustees rely on attorneys to do some due diligence, I think that's all the Trustee was doing. It sounds like you'll be fine.

[ryan]

Thanks for this report - it was interesting, and a bit different from what others usually report. I'm surprised the trustee didn't understand why you didn't file taxes.

[smoothdaddy]

welcome to the 60 day club.

[chicagoannie]

I'm glad your 341 is over. Hopefully 2011 brings us both jobs and steady income!